Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 5: 13 "The Skillful Warrior's energy is devastating; his timing, taut."

Master Sun appears to love teaching his fundamental ideas with driving repetition. Yesterday, we learned about the falcon's almost magical power of timing. Tomorrow, we will learn about the timing of pulling a crossbow's trigger. Today we learn the concept itself. Timing.

The Skillful Warrior. Perhaps, more than anything else, this is what we lost in America when we lost our greatness. No, I absolutely do NOT mean our warriors in the military. Rather, consider our local militia. That is what won the Revolutionary War. What happened to it?

By 1776, Americans were both hunter-gathers and farmers. Consider the long rifle, with its newly invented boring. Who knows why? A spinning piece of lead seems to travel better than one not spinning. Hunting, squirrels or Red Coats, Americans were good with their rifles.

Are you hungry for nutrients, protein and fat? Or are you hungry for freedom, the Rule of Law and NOT the Rule of Persons? It appears a long rifle is an essential instrument when hungry. Aim. Steady now. Breathe. Pull the trigger. A Red Coat dies. The price of freedom.

Energy. If there's a single concept in Master Sun's work - and there are countless - energy would have to be the most important. (I know, I always say that.) Energy. A rifle places some kind of explosive behind a piece of metal, and projects that metal with aim. Energy released.

A warrior's energy is...devastating. Let's be clear here. We're talking about the ending of human life. Organized killing. Master Sun has built his way here both methodically and morally. Far better to win WITHOUT killing. But, we're still talking war, which is killing.

There are people for whom the only persuasion is death. The only way to persuade them is to have devastating power over them. And some must die, so that the others know that death is real. The Skillful Warrior's energy is devastating. This is persuasion by combat.

So, timing. The Skillful Warrior's energy is devastating, his TIMING is taut. Timing. Attack? Or, retreat? Attack directly? Or, flank? Direct or indirect, and in either case...WHEN? Leadership is about timing, which is to say, it is about decision. The Skillful Warrior decides.

Might you be a Skillful Warrior? There you are with your sword raised comfortably over your right shoulder. You're balanced and poised. Do you step forward and strike? Do you wait for the attack and then pivot to your right and strike? Or do you step back and void? Decision.

To be devastating is not always a joy. In sparring with a young man, once, I discovered he was not wearing a cup over his sacred parts. How did I discover? I made him think my attack would come from high above when I was merely setting up an attack from low, below.

I was not aiming for the sacred parts, just for some part of the lower body. But, my safe, padded, rubber sparing sword struck home. Sadly, after that bout I never saw my young friend again. May I share that I am still conflicted over the joy of victory and the sorrow of pain?

My own greatest shadow-swording defeat came in a moment when my enemy knew to send my rubber sword flying away from my center, and immediately "cut" through my belly with his own rubber sparring sword. My mind saw my imaginary innards fall out. Death. Devastation. Timing.

What is taut timing? In the moment, not a moment too early, not a moment too late. A human sense of timing comes from two primary elements. Heartbeat, and breathing. We know snipers always coordinate both. You pull the trigger, breathing out gently, between heartbeats.

Lies. Dirty lies and manipulations. They're so easy to spot if you only look for them. When my wife and I watch TV, I often have to yell, pausing for the moment. Why didn't the anchor of the show challenge the guest over the obvious lie, the ridiculous manipulation?

How did I choose to support @realDonaldTrump? I never saw him hesitate for a moment in devastating his enemy. His timing was taut. His energy unstoppable. He showed up for war, ready to win. I'd never seen anything like it before and I was thrilled. I still am.

So, what about you? Can you execute devastation? Can your timing be taut? Can you make decisions in the moment leading to your enemy's demise, your own side's victory? Can you be Master Sun's Skillful Warrior? I say you can. I say any of us can, if only we choose to do so.

Please remember, the Skillful Warrior that Master Sun writes his wisdom for is you. Read his words, and then decide to win. Show up at the temple for planning, that's key. But, choose to win. Be the Skillful Warrior. Release your own devastating energy. Taut timing.

To return to previous sections in our #WarForAmerica2020 and #SunTzuForMAGA series, don't forget to head over to @WarForAmerica21.

101 verses completed, 321 to go. And also, be sure to purchase John Minford's translation, here:

amazon.com/Art-War-Pengui…

The local MAGA leader’s library needs three other books. The first is by my great friend, hero, and today’s greatest constitutional scholar, @shestokas. His most important work so far is:

amazon.com/Creating-Decla…

The second is available free. It is the combined Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

uscis.gov/sites/default/…

Last is my own book. I'll give you the link here, and then conclude with its ten MAGA principles:

amazon.com/America-First-…

1. Remember The Forgotten Americans
2. Rule Of Law
3. American Jobs
4. Quality Of Life For Every American
5. Heal Our Cities
6. Build The Wall
7. Make America Wealthy Again
8. Make America Strong Again
9. Make America Safe Again
10. Make America Great Again